After completing school and university education in England, Das returned to India in 1894.

The idea of The Doon School originated from his participation in the"growing search for a national Indian identity.

[citation needed] Das and the rest of the group envisaged an Indian school patterned on the British public school, which he felt had effectively trained young men to become responsible and resourceful administrators throughout the British Empire.

The founders saw Doon as the training ground for a new generation of Indian leaders who would take over the reins of administration and government following Independence.

In the summer of 1928, SR Das spent a good deal of his time in England visiting schools and discussing his scheme with well known educationists.